The Substitute Bride

Anthony stretched out his hand to pull Sheryl's nightgown. Sheryl was shocked and in panic. Suddenly a bottle of wine shattered on Anthony's head as she desperately struggled against him.

Sheryl instinctively closed her eyes to prevent the pieces of glass from falling into her eyes.

Anthony felt himself go blank and he swayed with the impact. He turned back and saw Nancy holding the broken neck of the bottle. Sheryl immediately pushed Anthony away and refastened her nightgown quickly. She then rushed upto Nancy and hid herself behind her.

She was still very shaken at what had just happened.

"Sheryl, are you alright?" Nancy asked Sheryl nervously.

Sheryl nodded slightly and answered in a wobbly voice, "I am fine."

As a nanny, Nancy knew that it was not right for her to concern herself in the personal matters of her employer. So she had not prevented Anthony from entering, instead, she had eavesdropped on their conversation.

This was how she came to know of Anthony's dishonourable behavior. Instantly she had grabbed a bottle of wine to use as a weapon and rushed out.

Luckily, she managed to rescue Sheryl on time. She shuddered to think of what would have happened if she had not acted on time.

Anthony gingerly touched the back of his head and found it bleeding profusely. He sobered immediately and regretted his rash action.

Looking at Sheryl as she stood trembling behind Nancy, he apologized, "Sher... I didn't mean it. I just lost my head. I am extremely sorry."

"Enough! Don't speak any more. You disgust me!" Anthony's behaviour nauseated Sheryl and she didn't want to see him anymore.

Nancy asked Sheryl, "Sheryl, shall we call the police?"

Anthony was taken aback. He looked at Sheryl with pleading eyes. He knew he had crossed all limits of decency.

However, he put it down to bei

plings in the refrigerator. You can eat them if you feel hungry. I will leave some water beside you so you can drink if you feel thirsty. I am going to bed now."

"Do you have... some wine?" Anthony asked in a stammer.

Sue was amazed. She asked Anthony, "Are you insane? How can you still want a drink after getting so badly injured? Do you want to kill yourself?"

Anthony sneered as he heard Sue's words. "Why should I live?

Without Sheryl, my life doesn't make any sense."

Sue hesitated and then took out a bottle of wine. "This was gifted to me by my friend. If you want to drink, I'll join you," she said.

Anthony glanced at her and asked, "This wine is expensive. Are you really willing to share it with me?"

Sue opened it and answered, "Of course."

Looking at Sue's face, Anthony suddenly realized that she was very beautiful.

"Here you are," Sue said as she handed the glass of wine to him. Then she asked, "Can you tell me what happened?"

Anthony drank the wine in one gulp and stammered, "Sheryl and I... We might be over this time. Our break up is inevitable now."

"Why?" Sue was surprised at first and then felt a little happy. But she refrained from showing any emotion on her face.